His phone ringed again. It was Zapata.
He let it ring for few milliseconds.. focusing. Then Kurt picked up the phone.
"Yes.."
"Weller, we may have something…We got Jane on the security camera on Citi Bank ATM at Brighton St. She just walked by it."
"Okay.. I'm going to head that way.."
"This was about 3 hours ago.. timestamp is at 9.45 PM"
"I know. She would eventually have to turn to one of the secluded cross streets and if I wanted to pick her up I would have waited in one of those cross streets. "
"Did you find any other security cameras in the area?"
"Not much luck there. There are bunch of traffic cams in Linden Blvd but we didn't catch her in any of them, and yes we were looking for something like a cargo van but only saw one U Haul. I doubt they would have checked out a U-haul for an abduction..." Zapata said trying to inject some lightness to the tense air.
"Are you sure she just walked away? We are basing all this on her being abducted. You know she had a lot in her mind and all.." Reed knew he was pointing out an unfavored argument.
"No. she didn't."
"Okay..okay.. so the next traffic camera we found is on one of the busiest streets. There are a lot of vans and it will take a while to track them all. Even with the ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition)." Patterson added sensing a potential dogfight.
"Weller any luck with the abduction site? Did anyone see anything? At least if we have a solid info on the type of vehicle or color or something.. this would be a lot faster"
"Not yet. I'm at the ATM right now. I'll call you back when I have something"
Kurt dialed the lead detective.
"Its agent Weller. Get you men to knock on doors in all the side streets from Brighton St. and Park Ave. before Linden. Try Medley Ave., Ocean Ave. and Kennen Ave. first"
"You got it."
Of all people, Kurt knows full well how critical the first few hours after an abduction is. He could not help but wonder whether he should have called in the search sooner… left that voicemail on Jane's phone sooner... The anticipation was draining him to the bone. So, he started to walking down the same path Jane would have taken; looking down the cross streets thinking where she would have turn or whether there is hint of a struggle or a glint of something out of place.
Kurt's phone buzzed again.
"Agent Weller we may have something at 93 Ocean Ave."
"One of the tenants saw a white cargo van parked here when he was trying to park, and no one owns or used a cargo van down the block. It isn't here anymore. Another person heard a vehicle driving off in a hurry around 10PM. This could be it. This could be the abduction site."
"Great work! Let me know what you find out and I'm going to head back to the FBI building"
-XXX-
After nearly two hours of staring at the screen looking for few dozen white cargo vans all the traffic cams have filtered out Patterson, Reed and Zapata begin to despise white cargo vans.
Why can't the bad guys drive orange cargo vans.. or purple or even better hot pink! Zapata was thinking to herself clearly the third cup of coffee in two hours was affecting her."
"Did you guys find anything..?" Weller walked into Patterson's office where everyone was staring at traffic cam footage with worn out eyes.
"I hate to say it but I feel like this is a dead end. If they are any good and plant this whole thing well.. They could have snached her without any trace and avoided all the security cams, because there aren't many around this area." It was Reed.
"It's not like we have a lot of options here. It could be a friendly from her past life, or not so friendly from her past life or someone on our end.. like CIA" It was Patterson.
"I talked to Mayfair. She is looking into the CIA direction"
"It's not like they gonna say, Lovely to hear from you... yaa we abducted Jane. " Patterson's usual sense of humour has not quite washed away after all that had happened.
There was rather a long silence among the group.
Weller looked at his team, it was nearly 3 am and they were all clearly tired, and at their wits end. Even though everyone had their distrusts about Jane, slowly but surely she had become a part of their lives, their family. She had put her life on the line for the team, and she began to count on them to have her back in a firefight.
Kurt said, "Let me know if you have something." walked out toward Mayfair's office.
XXXXXXXXX
Jane could feel the echo of her own voice over and over again "You did this to yourself. YOU did this to YOURSELF." Her eye were widened and the terrier of what she just heard was still stuffed in her chest.
Oscar finally remove the video and put his phone back into his pocket.
"Let's get you up.. okay..? I'm going to take off these. He moved to untie her wrists. Her wrist were marked with rope burns and bruises. His hands lingered on her wrists and he tried his best to hide his face from her that said way too much than he is allowed to say.
"remember I'm a friendly" he removed the final rope that tied her to the wooden board and she lifted herself up so quick it almost made Oscar brace for a punch in the face. Instead of a punch in the face, she ratted out,
"Am I Taylor Shaw? I want answers."
"I'll tell you everything. Are you okay?"
"Why did I do this to myself? What mission am I talking about here?"
"Don't worry I'll tell you, if you can walk we should start moving"
"where are we going? We should call the FBI"
"Come on" Oscar came closer to her gave it minute before touching her shoulder to get her up. Jane stood up in an instant.
"There may be more of them on the way." he said pointing to the Caters lifeless body, and started walking back toward the entrance in full alert.
They ran toward the wooded area on the left side of the warehouse where she was held.
"Listen.. I give you my word I'll tell you everything but not right now."
"WHAT! NO you tell me right now!"
"Remember this is your plan. Your playbook."
"Right! you say"
"You cannot tell the FBI about me, what you just saw on the video. If they are in too soon we won't have a chance. you won't have a chance. It very important. Give this few days and when you think you can get out of the safehouse hang a scarf on your left bedroom window and watch out for the same on the 83 grand ave 2nd floor on your way to work. we'll meet at the top floor of the 15 Renee st."
"Why should I trust you"
A smirk flashed across his face. "I just saved your life or have you already forgotten it already." Oscar looked at her for a moment. "Your favorite color is purple, and you really like the woods, you always thought the silence and the trees are peaceful. You are an avid coffee drinker and you are terrified of flying, and that is a very interesting story for another time"
"You could have find out all that from one of my FBI files somewhere" Jane said try to remain unconvinced and try to force more out of him. "Knowing someone and trusting him are two different things"
"You don't have a choice. Do you? I'm sorry I want to tell you all of it but if they interrogate you.. you don't want all of this to come out"
"Please it's VERY important you don't say anything to the FBI about video or me"
"Kurt Weller.. we can trust him, and he can help"
"Right" he replied sarcastically. "and you are basing that on..what?" Oscard noticed her furrowed brows at the comment.
"Listen, think about the position you gonna put him in. He would be breaking the rules if he didn't report to FBI of what you say and if he report it he would be breaking the trust with you. It's not meant to be a secret forever, but for the time being please… trust me. Whether you know it or not I'm the best friend you got"
"When the FBI come, tell them a masked man came in and shot those guys and you got yourself out and was chasing me into the woods when they found you"
"Did you call the FBI already?"
Oscar moved his hand infront of her like he was about to put something on her palm or shake her hand. She raised her hands to meet his thinking he is trying to give her something, and the next second she found her pulled into him close.. very very close so that her Kurt Weller tattoo was rubbing against his chest. Then she realized he cannot move one of her arms. It was twisted on her back with her other arm. His arms were so strong that she realized she has to find another way to gain the upper hand. in the next second his second arm was wrapped around her neck forcing back of her head to his shoulder and whispered on her ear, "Don't fight it.. just don't fight it.. it's gonna be over soon. remember what I said. I'll tell you very thing" Whatever Oscar said she was struggling with all her might. She tried to use her legs, the only thing that seems to be free at the moment, to her advantage and try to use her body weight to topple him over her shoulder or kick him. But Oscar was quick to realize it and he kick the back of her knee with the toe of his boot making her knee give out while lowering the rest of her body to the ground. Jane could feel her arms and legs slowly losing their strength and her world turned to black.